str.center() Center with fill
Last updated: 2026-09-22
str.center() Center with fill
str.center(width[, fillchar]) centers the string in a field of width, padded with fillchar.
| Category | String Methods |
|---|---|
| Kind | Built-in Type Method |
| Python Version | all |
📝 Syntax
str.center(width[, fillchar])⚙️ Parameters
| width Required | Total width of the result string. |
|---|---|
| fillchar Optional | Single character used to pad; defaults to a space.（Default：' '） |
Returns：str. A new string of length width with the original centered and padded with fillchar.
Mutates the original：No (returns a new object)
💥 Raises
TypeError— Raised when fillchar is not a string of length 1.
▶ Example
Edit the code, press Run, and see the result in the output panel:
Output：
hi
----hi----💡 Related Cases
More case studies coming soon — check back later.
❓ FAQ
QWhat happens when width is smaller than the original string length?
AIt does not raise an error; it simply returns the original string without truncating. For example, 'hi'.center(1) returns 'hi'.
QWhat constraints apply to the fillchar parameter?
AIt must be a string of exactly length 1, otherwise a TypeError is raised. For example, 'hi'.center(10, '--') will fail.
QHow are the fill spaces distributed when the padding is uneven?
AWhen the difference between the original length and width is odd, the extra space goes on the right. For example, 'hi'.center(5) gives ' hi ', with 1 on the left and 2 on the right.
QDoes center() modify the string in place?
ANo. Strings are immutable; it returns a new padded string and leaves the original unchanged.
